按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they were so still； so pale； that they might have been dead。 hunger had drawn the skin over their faces； pain had left lines around their eyes； and they were covered in dust and mud and not a little blood。 and from the absolute passivity of their limbs； they seemed in the last stages of exhaustion。
lyra was the first to wake。 as the sun moved up the sky； it came past the rock above and touched her hair； and she began to stir； and when the sunlight reached her eyelids； she found herself pulled up from the depths of sleep like a fish； slow and heavy and resistant。
but there was no arguing with the sun； and presently she moved her head and threw her arm across her eyes and murmured： 〃pan； pan。。。〃
under the shadow of her arm； she opened her eyes and came properly awake。 she didnt move for some time； because her arms and legs were so sore； and every part of her body felt limp with weariness； but still she was awake； and she felt the little breeze and the suns warmth； and she heard the little insect scrapings and the bell song of that bird high above。 it was all good。 she had forgotten how good the world was。
presently she rolled over and saw will； still fast asleep。 his hand had bled a lot； his shirt was ripped and filthy； his hair was stiff with dust and sweat。 she looked at him for a long time； at the little pulse in his throat； at his chest rising and falling slowly； at the delicate shadows his eyelashes made when the sun finally reached them。
he murmured something and stirred。 not wanting to be caught looking at him； she looked the other way at the little grave theyd dug the night before； just a couple of hand spans wide； where the bodies of the chevalier tialys and the lady salmakia now lay at rest。 there was a flat stone nearby； she got up and prized it loose from the soil； and set it upright at the head of the grave； and then sat up and shaded her eyes to gaze across the plain。
it seemed to stretch forever and ever。 it was nowhere entirely flat； gentle undulations and little ridges and gullies varied the surface wherever she looked； and here and there she saw a stand of trees so tall they seemed to be constructed rather than grown。 their straight trunks and dark green canopy seemed to defy distance； being so clearly visible at what must have been many miles away。
closer； though； in fact； at the foot of the bluff； not more than a hundred yards away； there was a little pond fed by a spring ing out of the rock； and lyra realized how thirsty she was。
she got up on shaky legs and walked slowly down toward it。 the spring gurgled and trickled through mossy rocks； and she dipped her hands in it again and again； washing them clear of the mud and grime
before lifting the water to her mouth。 it was teeth…achingly cold； and she swallowed it with delight。
the pond was fringed with reeds； where a frog was croaking。 it was shallow and warmer than the spring； as she discovered when she took off her shoes and waded into it。 she stood for a long time with the sun on her head and her body； relishing the cool mud under her feet and the cold flow of springwater around her calves。
she bent down to dip her face under the water and wet her hair thoroughly； letting it trail out and flicking it back again； stirring it with her fingers to lift all the dust and grime out。
when she felt a little cleaner and her thirst was satisfied； she looked up the slope again； to see that will was awake。 he was sitting with his knees drawn up and his arms across them； looking out across the plain as shed done； and marveling at the extent of it。 and at the light； and at the warmth； and at the quiet。
she climbed slowly back to join him and found him cutting the names of the gallivespians on the little headstone； and setting it more firmly in the soil。
〃are they。。。〃 he said； and she knew he meant the daemons。
〃dont know。 i havent seen pan。 i got the feeling hes not far away； but i dont know。 dyou remember what happened？〃
he rubbed his eyes and yawned so deeply she heard little cracking noises in his jaw。 then he blinked and shook his head。
〃not much；〃 he said。 〃i picked up pantalaimon and you picked up； the other one and we came through； and it was moonlight everywhere； and i put him down to close the window。〃
〃and your； the other daemon just jumped out of my arms；〃 she said。 〃and i was trying to see mr。 scoresby through the window； and iorek； and to see where pan had gone； and when i looked around； they just werent there。〃
〃it doesnt feel like when we went into the world of the dead； though。 like when we were really separated。〃
〃no；〃 she agreed。 〃theyre somewhere near all right。 i remember when we were young we used to try and play hide…and…seek； except it never really worked； because i was too big to hide from him and i always used to know exactly where he was； even if he was camouflaged as a moth or something。 but this is strange；〃 she said； passing her hands over her head involuntarily as if she were trying to dispel some enchantment。 〃he ent here； but i dont feel torn apart； i feel safe； and i know he is。〃
〃theyre together； i think；〃 will said。
〃yeah。 they must be。〃
he stood up suddenly。
〃look；〃 he said； 〃over there。。。〃
he was shading his eyes and pointing。 she followed his gaze and saw a distant tremor of movement； quite different from the shimmer of the heat haze。
〃animals？〃 she said doubtfully。
〃and listen；〃 he said； putting his hand behind his ear。
now hed pointed it out； she could hear a low； persistent rumble； almost like thunder； a very long way off。
〃theyve disappeared；〃 will said； pointing。
the little patch of moving shadows had vanished； but the rumble went on for a few moments。 then it became suddenly quieter； though it had been very quiet already。 the two of them were still gazing in the same direction； and shortly afterward they saw the movement start up again。 and a few moments later came the sound。
〃they went behind a ridge or something；〃 said will。 〃are they closer？〃
〃cant really see。 yes； theyre turning； look； theyre ing this way。〃
〃well； if we have to fight them； i want a drink first；〃 said will； and he took the rucksack down to the stream； where he drank deep and washed off most of the dirt。 his wound had bled a lot。 he was a mess； he longed for a hot shower with plenty of soap； and for some clean clothes。
lyra was watching the。。。 whatever they were； they were very strange。
〃will；〃 she called； 〃theyre riding on wheels。。。〃
but she said it uncertainly。 he climbed back a little way up the slope and shaded his eyes to look。 it was possible to see individuals now。 the group； or herd； or gang； was about a dozen strong； and they were moving； as lyra said； on wheels。 they looked like a cross between antelopes and motorcycles； but they were stranger than that； even： they had trunks like small elephants。
and they were making for will and lyra； with an air of intention。 will took out the knife； but lyra； sitting on the grass beside him； was already turning the hands of the alethiometer。
it responded quickly； while the creatures were still a few hundred yards away。 the needle darted swiftly left and right； and left and left； and lyra felt her mind dart to the meanings and land on them as lightly as a bird。
〃theyre friendly；〃 she said； 〃its all right； will； theyre looking for us； they knew we were here。。。 and its odd； i cant quite make it out。。。 dr。 malone ？〃
she said the name half to herself； because she couldnt believe dr。 malone would be in this world。 still； the alethiometer indicated her clearly； although of course it couldnt give her name。 lyra put it away and stood up slowly beside will。
〃i think we should go down to them；〃 she said。 〃they ent going to hurt us。〃
some of them had stopped； waiting。 the leader moved ahead a little； trunk raised； and they could see how he propelled himself with powerful backward strokes of his lateral limbs。 some of the creatures had gone to the pond to drink； the others waited； but not with the mild； passive curiosity of cows gathering at a gate。 these were individuals； lively with intelligence and purpose。 they were people。
will and lyra moved down the slope until they were close enough to speak to t